Body found in Missouri is of missing girl

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Adriaunna M. Horton was reported missing from near a Golden City park on Monday.

Story highlights

Girl was seen getting into car on Monday afternoon

Body was found Wednesday

The worst fears of a Missouri family were realized as authorities positively identified a body as that of a missing 12-year-old girl.

Adriaunna M. Horton was reported missing from near a Golden City park on Monday. Officials with the Barton County Sheriff's Office said Adriaunna was playing with friends outside when she was seen getting into a vehicle.

News of the body's identity was released Thursday by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Searchers found the body on Wednesday afternoon in a wooded area southeast of the town.

The alleged driver of the vehicle was taken into custody. There was no immediate word Friday on the status of the driver.

Authorities were holding a press conference Friday afternoon.

Patrol Sgt. Mike Watson declined to provide details about where Adriaunna's body was found, saying that the investigation is ongoing.

Golden City is in a rural section of southwest Missouri, about 25 miles east of the Kansas border.